A systemic and public value approach to integrated public sector reforms: a case for South African municipalities
Date
2019-06
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
International Association of Schools and Institutes of Administration (IASIA)
Abstract
The bureaucratic-hierarchical apparatus in municipalities constrain systemic integration
(systemic transformation), open dialogue with communities and stakeholders, bottom-up
innovation and responsiveness to citizens’ needs, demands and expectations. This paper asserts
that the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (17 UN-SDGs) can be realised
upon the institution of an integrated public service system (IPSS) generating public value (PV)
in municipalities. The emergence of an IPSS is forged upon open systems theory, nonlinear
democratic stakeholder networks, collaborative governance and PV theory, vital to citizens’
needs, demands, expectations and broad socio-economic goals. The key outcomes from
research undertaken in 15 municipalities the Western Cape region in South Africa, points to a
75% - 100% acceptance range for IPSS and PV generation performance functions and
indicators. The actualisation of public sector reform therefore necessitates systemic
transformation in the micro sphere of government primarily, where transformative change is
essential for social progress and well-being.